Metal Generating Water
Dear Patient,
It’s officially winter in the northern hemisphere, which means it’s a good time to nourish the Kidneys.
The Kidneys correspond to the Water element and the season of winter. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they form the foundation of our constitutional strength. All that we inherit from our ancestors is contained within the Kidneys. They are the carrier of our genetic imprint. They govern the unfolding of the life cycle—birth, growth, maturity, reproduction, aging and death.
When we want to fortify the Kidneys and the Water element, we look to the preceding element in what we call the Generating Cycle of the Five Elements or Five Phases. We call this treating the Mother to benefit the Child. Metal is the mother of Water, so to nourish Water, we treat Metal.
Kidney 7 is the Metal point on the Kidney channel. It is especially effective at reinforcing the Kidney function of regulating the water passages, so it’s great for all types of fluid disorders such edema, urinary problems, swelling, abdominal distention, sweating and dry mouth.
But even if your body fluids are just fine, you can still benefit from a little acupressure at Kidney 7, particularly at this time of year when the Water element is at its fullest expression (scroll down for location notes). Just press, breathe, and imagine nourishment from the Kidneys flowing like water through the many rivers and streams of your body.
Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist
P.S. Each Wednesday I write about a different acupuncture point. Are there any you’re curious about? Let me know!
Location Notes:
Kidney 7 is located on the medial or inner side of the lower leg. First, find the medial malleolus—aka your big ankle bone on the medial side. Just behind the malleolus, halfway between the bone and your Achilles tendon is another Kidney point, Kidney 3. Kidney 7 is about two inches above Kidney 3. As always, the best way to find a point is by pressing around until you find a depression, or a bump, or a tender spot.